Recurring concern
Unsafe prescribing for patients consuming excessive alcohol
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Request correctionFirst reported 10 Jan 2014•Latest report 9 Aug 2022
What this concern includes
Includes failures in prescribing arrangements specifically addressing patients who consume alcohol excessively, including identifying and communicating alcohol use to prescribers, assessing interaction and overdose risks, setting appropriate dosage or duration, providing relevant advice and arranging follow-up review.
Not included
- Excludes general unsafe prescribing where excessive alcohol use is not a material part of the asserted concern.
- Excludes generic medication communication, documentation or policy deficiencies unless they directly impair prescribing for a patient consuming excessive alcohol.
- Excludes alcohol-use treatment, withdrawal management and intoxication response where medication prescribing risk is not the shared unsafe condition.
- Excludes medication administration, dispensing or supply failures after a safe alcohol-sensitive prescribing decision has been made.
- Reports
- 4
- Individual concerns
- 5
- Date range
- 2014–2022
- Stated actions
- 8
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of a policy for patients prescribed medication while consuming alcohol to excess
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Create an electronic-record alert for drugs in the specified prescribing group, warning prescribers about dosage and alcohol-related risks.
Stated by Swanage Medical Practice
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Concerns raised1
Failure to account for significant alcohol use when prescribing powerful painkillers
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Share up-to-date opiate prescribing guidance across Stockport practices.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board -
Action
Work with system colleagues to ensure adherence to best-practice opiate prescribing guidance.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Existing prescribing safeguards are considered sufficient to ensure safe opiate prescribing across the individual practice and wider Stockport GP community.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
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Concerns raised2
Failure to ensure prescribers are aware of high alcohol use
Failure to assess the risk of mixing alcohol with prescribed medication
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Flag patients at risk from neuropathic medication and alcohol dependence, conduct medication reviews, and contact them about medication and alcohol consumption.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and Tameside Borough Council -
Action
Train non-clinical staff to share intentional or accidental overdose information with practice GPs.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and Tameside Borough Council -
Action
Develop and distribute guidance to practices on identifying and managing patients prescribed neuropathic drugs or opioids who may be alcohol-dependent.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and Tameside Borough Council
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Action
Issue an alert to all GP practices about alert notes, follow-up reviews and considering systems to identify high alcohol use during prescribing.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The named Clinical Commissioning Group is responsible for addressing the concerns raised about GP practice alert systems and prescribing risk assessment.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
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Concerns raised1
Failure to safely assess morphine prescribing alongside high-dose painkillers and alcohol dependence
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Consider and initiate independent medication reviews by asking an uninvolved doctor to review complex patients’ medication when appropriate.
Stated by Browning Street Surgery
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Morphine was considered appropriate because pain was significant, alternatives had failed, alcohol intake had reduced, and prescribing was regularly reviewed.
Stated by Browning Street Surgery
Data last updated 7 September 2026